Please allow ample time for morning traffic and for the required Prudential Center’s security checkpoint.

7:30 a.m. - Prudential Center doors open

8:40 a.m. - Processional begins

9:00 a.m. - Ceremony begins **

11:30 a.m. - Approximate end time for the ceremony

**Please note: All candidates are required to stay the duration of the ceremony to give the same courtesy to the last student whose name is called as was given to the first. In the event that guests are leaving before the end of the ceremony, candidates are reminded to make alternative transportation arrangements, as they will not be permitted to leave early.

Location, Travel Directions and Parking

Location:

The ceremony will be held at the Prudential Center, located at 165 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

Travel Directions:

Directions for driving or taking public transportation to the Prudential Center can be found here. Please note Commencement falls on a weekday, so you should allow extra time for heavy traffic. If you choose public transportation, the Prudential Center is two blocks away from Newark Penn Station.

Parking is available for a charge at the commercial lots near Prudential Center, as indicated on this map. Costs vary, as the lots are privately owned. Any information about discounted rates will be posted on this site, if and when it becomes available.

You also have the option of parking on campus and taking the city subway to Newark Penn Station or walking to the Prudential Center.

Subway: You will need to purchase an "underground fare" ticket; you must validate your subway ticket before entering the subway car. Failure to validate your ticket can result in a summons from the City of Newark.

Walking: If you park on campus, you can walk to the Prudential Center. Directions can be found here. Please note: We do not recommend this option for the elderly or those with disabilities.

If anyone would like to prepay and reserve handicapped parking at the Prudential Center Parking Deck you can do so by clicking here: https://prucenter.clickandpark.com/. You will need to have handicapped plates or show your hang tag.

Please note: although this will be convenient, and you do not have to cross the street, it is not the closest parking lot to the venue.

Seating for Candidates

Click for a larger view

As you face the stage, Ph.D. candidates will be seated in the front of the first row on the left-hand side (house left/stage right). The NCE bachelor’s candidates will be seated directly behind them.

Seating on the right-hand side (house right/stage left) will consist of the following groups in order: Ph.D. advisors, faculty, COAD bachelor's candidates, CSLA bachelor's candidates, MTSOM bachelor's candidates, YWCC bachelor's candidates. All Albert Dorman Honors College candidates will sit as a group at the beginning of their college.

Guest Seating

Tickets are not required to attend; however, we do suggest you refer to the "Seating for Candidates" section above so that you can get a better idea of where your candidate is seated and therefore you can plan your seating accordingly. Please note: seating in sections 10 and 17 are reserved for University guests and are not a part of general admission. All seats for guests of candidates are general admission and available on a first-come basis, guests are not allowed to reserve or block off seating. If you attempt to do so, Prudential staff will enforce the policy.

Guest Services/Accessibility

The Prudential Center Guest Services Staff are available to answer your questions, collect lost and found items and provide assistance to guests at various locations.

Wheelchair assistance

If you need a wheelchair to assist you in entering the building or if you will require a wheelchair for the duration of the ceremony, you must bring your own. Please note: Ramps are provided at the entrance of the Ford Tower located at the corner of Lafayette and Mulberry Street.

The Prudential Center has a limited number of wheelchairs made available to our guests once they have entered the building. Outside of the Prudential Center, wheelchairs will not be available.

Once inside, you can request assistance from the Prudential Center Guest Services. You do not need to reserve a wheelchair as they are made available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please refer to the following steps.

Guests in need of assistance should be dropped off curbside near the tower entrance.

Guests whose student is graduating from NCE will enter via the Ford Tower.

Upon entering, please inform the Prudential Security Staff that you will need a wheelchair.

Once you have received a wheelchair, an usher will escort you and your family to the wheelchair seating area.

There are elevators to assist you in getting to the proper location.

Once the usher has brought you to your seat, he or she will then return to the entrance with the wheelchair to assist other guests.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, an usher will return with a wheelchair to escort you to an exit. The staff will need to accommodate all those they originally escorted to their seats so we ask that you please be patient as they try to get to everyone out as quickly as possible.

Sign Language Interpreter

If a candidate or guest requires a sign language interpreter, he/she must email the request to commencement@njit.edu by Sunday, April 22, 2018.

Who are the Golden Highlanders?

It is an NJIT tradition to invite all alumni who have graduated from NJIT (Newark College of Engineering) 50 years ago or more to participate in the ceremony. After the degree candidates have processed, the Golden Highlanders are announced. It is one of the most memorable moments in the ceremony as they enter the arena to the sounds of cheers and applause from the candidates and their guests. We look forward to the participation of the Class of 2018 in 2068.

What NOT to bring

For safety reasons, guests are refused entry if they are in possession of prohibited items. Illegal items will be confiscated and turned over to the police. If a guest is found inside the arena with prohibited items, the items will be confiscated, and the guest may be ejected from the facility.
The following items are not permitted at Prudential Center:

Lodging, Restaurants, and Attractions

For further information on lodging, restaurants and Newark destinations we recommend you check Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Center at newarkhappening.com.

There are several hotels in the Newark area. NJIT does not endorse any of these; they are merely provided for your convenience as they have arrangements with NJIT to offer our guests a special rate. You must identify yourself as an affiliate of NJIT to qualify for the discount.

Please call the hotel and reference NJIT to receive the rate of $179+tax. Rate includes the following free shuttle service to the airport. A reservation must be made by April 23, 2018 to honor the rate.

Please call the hotel and reference NJIT/code 5719216 or use this link to receive the discounted rate of $149.00+tax per night. Rate includes the following free services: shuttle to/from NJIT campus, buffet breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi, shuttle service to/from Newark Intl Airport. Please make reservations before April 16, 2018 in order to receive the $149.00 rate.

Please call the hotel and reference NJIT to receive the discounted rate of $141+tax. Rate includes free shuttle service to NJIT and Newark Airport. Please book by April 14th to receive the discounted rate.